Writers First Aid

Say “Ahhhhhhhh…”

July 21, 2010

Even when life is going well, the writing pressures, the marketing, the waiting, and the deadlines can make you dream of taking a writing retreat.

For several years, I’ve had on my book shelf a “book in a box” called The Writer’s Retreat Kit: A Guide for Creative Exploration and Personal Expression by Judy Reeves. I’ve looked longingly at it several times and read some of her ideas of creating writer’s retreats lasting from twenty minutes to several days, depending on the time and money you have available.

Maybe Someday…

This time, though, I’m not going to sigh and put the book box back. I’m going to delve deeper into the retreat idea and try some of the experiences. I have no logical reason to feel as burned out as I do, but when I read the following opening page, I let out a big Ahhhhhh! I bet you will too.

Judy writes: Getting away: the wish and dream and fantasy of every writer I have ever known and, I expect, of nearly every writer I will ever meet, except for those rare and blessed souls who are lucky enough, or determined enough, or rich enough, to already be “away.”

What is “away”? It is someplace else. It is the place that each of us craves, and when we close our eyes, comes to us in all its wooded shadiness or vast, unending blueness. We visualize a mountain cabin; a cottage by the sea; a secret, hidden monastery; a wide-decked, windowed, pillowed, sweet-smelling, abundant, nurturing, solitary place where there are no “musts” or “have tos” or “shoulds.”

No dishes to do or phones to answer or children/mates/partners with whom we must interact. No set time to start or stop, to wake up or go to sleep. No television. No email. No deadlines. No place to drive to. It is simply a place to be.

A writing retreat.

renew
refresh
explore
create
refill
retreat…to write

A Hidden Retreat

We may have the delight and privilege of going to a real retreat for writers. (I think of those lucky souls at the Chautauqua Writer’s Workshop in New York this week!) But what if you can’t get away like that, for whatever reason (cost, small children, health issues)?

Have you found a way to make your own writer’s retreat? Is it a corner of a room? A back porch swing? A pond in the city park? Hay loft in the barn?

We all need such a place. Could you share with us where you go when you need to retreat?

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Posted in: retreat,writers block,writing habits | | Comments (12)

12 Comments »

Finding a retreat place is something I’m still working on since I moved 2 years ago. But I’m homing in–libraries! I have a public branch very near me and one with more scenic views not far. In addition, there’s an academic library not far that is open during hours when the public library is not. All I have to do is pickup and laptop and drive over there. Another difference since I moved is that in my current job, I work from home in the same office as my “writing” office. I am feeling the need to now have a separate writing place, at least for some parts of writing. Best wishes to you in your get-away!

Comment by Jane Heitman Healy — July 21, 2010 @ 12:02 pm
Are you looking for volunteers…to try out the retreat ideas? I need a retreat and was so glad to see this post!

Comment by Kerstin T — July 21, 2010 @ 1:16 pm
I grew up on river front property in the Rocky Mountains – is there really a better and more realistic place than such for my imagination? Not that I’ve found. Sadly, I am only able to return once during each calendar year where the weather is warm enough to listen to the river as it dances over the stones, or the birds in the trees, or the rustling of the leaves – but when I desire a retreat, that is what I pull up in my mind to dwell on as I take a deep breath and prepare to dive into my fictional world. Ahhh…two weeks just isn’t coming quick enough this year!

Comment by Andrea — July 21, 2010 @ 2:49 pm
After morning and evening chores, I take half hour to just be in my backyard. The family is fed and watered, the chores done and everybody is doing their own thing … before I get wrangled into a game or something. Having that quiet time to myself does wonders even if I do nothing but simply breathe in the beauty.

Comment by Vijaya — July 21, 2010 @ 8:19 pm
My retreating, at this point, amounts to the hour or so I have at night, after everyone else has gone to bed. If my husband decides to stay up a little longer, it cuts into my retreating time. When everyone’s in bed, no one wants anything of me, there’s no tv on, things are quiet. Sometimes it’s when I do my best writing (or so I think, anyway!); sometimes, it’s just time for me to empty my brain and enjoy the silence.

Comment by Yvette — July 21, 2010 @ 8:54 pm
We are so fortunate! One of our critique group has an aunt with an amazing home on a farm, complete with lake, horses, goats, chickens, treehouse, etc., and a beautiful guest accomodations. We get away and we get to play. She has been an incredible blessing in letting us visit her there as a retreat.

Other than that, I have a room with many windows and that’s my mini-retreat, and sometimes I go home to my mom’s farm which is also a restful place to write (except that I bring the family with).

Comment by Beth Mac — July 21, 2010 @ 9:45 pm
Andrea, I love the idea of “pulling this place up” in your mind! Instant vacation, no matter where you are.

Comment by Jane Heitman Healy — July 22, 2010 @ 7:31 am
How about McDonald’s playland? That’s about as close as I get…

Comment by Amy Simon — July 22, 2010 @ 8:12 am
My retreats are in my mind… once my toddler son is tucked in for the 4th time of the evening, and my husband has settled into the paper or his book or some mundane show on the TV…
I sit on the floor with my back against the couch, then I close my eyes and breathe (sometimes deeply, sometimes not), think (about everything or nothing or a tranquil space – real or imagined) & relax…
Its usually my hubby who breaks the spell with a gentle touch, to let me know he’s heading to bed, and most often I’m relaxed enough by then to join him for sleep for there is always a tomorrow…

Comment by Ally — July 22, 2010 @ 1:42 pm
My apologies to everyone for getting behind in posting and commenting on comments. This week has been one for the books!

Jane: Libraries are fabulous “homes away from home.” I know what you mean about writing in the same office at home where you “work.” I do too (teaching). I feel the same need often.

Kerstin: From the flood of email I got privately on this post, I think I could organize a huge retreat for writers starting now! I think I really touched a nerve.

Andrea: Oh my! River front property in the Rocky Mountains???? I can see why you “pull up” that vision in your mind when you need a quick get-away. I would too! I imagine we all have special places like that which tug at our hearts.

Vijaya: Do you have to set a boundary of some kind with the family for that half hour break? I think moms today in particular have a hard time saying, “Mommy needs some quiet time right now ALONE.” Of course, when my kids were little, I wasn’t very good at it myself.

Yvette: I remember, after getting kids in bed, just staring at the wall sometimes and listening to the silence. I don’t recall getting any good writing done, but I journaled sometimes (after lighting a candle to put on my table.) I remember there was something special about staring at that candle flame—something you couldn’t have around when little ones were awake!

Beth, when can we all sign up to go to your friend’s aunt’s farm???? Talk about my idea of heaven! Makes me homesick for the farm in Iowa.

Amy: Sometimes McDonalds playland is as good as it gets! But oh! The noise in some of those places! Anyone who can retreat there has nerves of steel.

Ally: My retreats are in my mind too most of the time. Your wind-down time at the end of the day sounds critical to your peace of mind and ability to sleep. I’m glad you’ve found a way to do that.

Comment by Kristi Holl — July 23, 2010 @ 3:49 pm
Hi Kristi,

I love to walk and sit along the Avon River. That is one of the ways that I retreat. I just go to a special park bench, take a pillow and just sit basking in the sun. It feels so good. I try to spend a good half an hour a week there.

Thank you for such a wonderful post!

Irene

Comment by Irene — July 24, 2010 @ 1:52 pm
Irene, that sounds lovely! How often do you fall asleep there? The pillow would do it for me!

Comment by Kristi Holl — July 25, 2010 @ 5:50 am